The Situation a Month Ago.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 9823, 24 July 1900, Page 8

The Situation a Month Ago.

A correspondent at Hong Kong, writing on June 23rd, says :— There can be no doubt that the situation is black, very black indeed, and that we may expect a very lively time m China for the next few months. In Canton so far matters have been quiet, for the Boxers have not as yet made their appearance. The Chinese, however, are in an excited state, and are anticipating trouble. They say that if order is to be preserved Li Hung Chang must stay in the city, for he is the only man who'can manage matters properly. But Li has been ordered north by the Empress Dowager, and although he has been approached by the foreign Consuls with requests to remain and has cancelled his passage north by the China Merchants' steamer Kwang Lee, it is said that he intends to leave on Thursday next. The foreign settlements in Canton are situated upon the Shameen, a small island connected withthecityby a bridge. They entertain great fears of a rising on the part of the Chinese, and are preparing to defend themselves. They have asked the British Consul to send to Hong Kong for a gunboat, but he declines, on the ground that matters are quiet. The boxing of the ears of a Chinese urchin by a foreigner just now might result in the sacking of the Shameen. The American Consul has not beeu so backward, and the gunboat Don Juan d'Austria, captured from the Spaniards at Manila, has been sent up, and is now anchored off the Shameen, to the great relief of the foreign residents. In Hong Kong the Boxers are said to have appeared already, and to bespreading their doctrine. I know for a fact that the coolies have begun to disiuss their spells and the desirability of rendering themselves invulnerable, aud then setting to work to massacre the foreigners. So far there is little sign of anything being wrongs tout with Chinese any disturbance breaks out without warning, and we do not know from day to day what may or may not happen. The volunteers have been warned to be in readiness, and anangements have been made for their being called up by telephone either day or night, each man's place of business and home address being registered with the nearest telephone and police station. In the new territory the people are becoming restless, and the police force has been increased, which unfortunately means a corresponding reduction in the number of men available f,}r duty in Hong Kong.